I am in the process of creating a special report for any of my tenants that might start to find themselves slipping down a bad slope and pay me rent.

It is so easy for a LL to beat there hands on their chest and say don't pay rent late. That approach doesn't help the struggling tenant get caught up on rent owed.

So what resources has the group has recommended to tenants in need to help these customers that is needing a hand up and not a hand out.

I'm most areas, including mine, a call to 211 will put them in contact with an organization that has very many contacts in the area.

What I've experienced is that 99 percent don't even bother to call. Could it be that they really have simply decided not to pay instead of legitimately being in trouble?

In my area St Vincent de Paul society and the larger chuches give emergency rental assistance. Tenant will need the 3 day notice, agency will call to verify, so make sure your phone # is on the notice. Payment is made diectly to LL. Some LL attach the agency list to their 3 day notice.

How about a List of Employment Agencies,

CEO is one. United way possibly. Red Cross maybe. Local churches?

I had a more comprehensive list a few years ago that I sent to a few tenants. Not sure what happened to it.

(Luckily and thankfully) I have been getting better tenants and requiring autodraft rent payments helps incredibly.

I agree with sending a notice and/or filing along with providing the list of rent assistance agencies.

Plenty, that's what I do.

I also have been doing a monthly newsletter, and January's edition is all about the envelope system of budgeting. I think that comes from Dave Ramsey. I'd already given this to one tenant, and last time I saw her, she told me how much it has helped. I could see the changes.

No, not all of us have a penchant for training and development. There is room for all different kinds of landlords in this business. I, personally, have an incredibly strong drive to educate on life skills so, for me, seeing my tenants 'grow' financially is part of MY income.

Ray,

From actual stats in our company, in our present economy, needing help like this is the beginning of the end.

And once we took the agency's $150 or $300 assistance toward $800 owed we had to agree not to evict for 30 days. I know this sounds backward but the financial aide only made the hole deeper.

We allowed them an extra week or two for the appt and most used this as an excuse for more time - never called or never went. We would call the agencies to confirm.

Feel good vs effective.

PayDayPlanRent makes this MUCH easier because we are looking for $185 instead of $650, and we know each Friday if they are behind, not part way thru the month.

I knwo it sounds gruff but they "get" ZT and make the rent a priority. Talking with and sending them to agencies reduces the priority and actually adds to their stress of not knowing.

And the added stress on us! calling, confirming, promises, tracking, counseling, encouraging, waiting, lies, should we file?, ad nausem.

If we get a call we tell them Dominoes is hiring, avg $15 per hour mostly CASH. One res is driving for UBER and can make $150-200 on a weekend night. Money is in his account the next day.

WE still include the list of agencies built stress it's up to them to find help early because we don't wait.

BRAD

Ephesians 6:4 says "Fathers, do not exasperate your children: instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Exasperate can mean CONFUSE to FRUSTRATION.

Brad's LL re-phrase: Landlords, do not confuse and frustrate your residents with vague or wishy-washy enforcement of policies, instead, bring them up with training at lease signing and instruction on how to comply with the Lease.

Even tho people hate commitment they appreciate knowing where the boundary is.

BRAD

Oops! TYpo!

Should read: We still include the list of agencies but stress it's up to them to find help early because we don't wait.

I know my system and post may sound cranky, but we truly do love out residents and wish them the best.

Trained social workers will tell you that sometimes help does not help. Sometimes the best way to love them is help them get out of what they can no longer afford and into something they CAN afford.

I have over $500,000 worth of unpaid judgments to prove my point. These are people we "worked with" until wew finally had to evict.

Now THEY have an eviction on their record, a large unpaid judgment, and WE lost $500,000.

It's a lose-lose proposition.

Ok folks....who do you point them too?

I really don't want to kick everyone who ever has an issue out the door.

Should you demand payment - absolutely.

Quick question of all those who post online - have any of you never had a financial hic-up or curve thrown at you?

I don't know the name of the agency where two different tenants have used. My tenants knew about it. But, I know where it's located, as I stopped to ask what the hold up was. Took a long time to get the money from this agency.

I'm generally not letting tenants stay who would be over a month behind anymore. Brad is correct in that that for most people, it's actually kinder if they accept reality, and change their circumstances. Having said that, since I know my tenants very well, there are a couple I would be willing to allow them to stay, because they are very hard workers and take financial responsibility very seriously. One of those tenants did have a big hiccup, and now, over a year later, is in a much stronger position than ever before.

But, my tenants don't have much chance to talk to each other, my houses are fairly spread out. This wouldn't work in a duplex or multi -fam situation. (And is skirting running afoul of disparate treatment laws, but, I have well-documented the justification for extending credit based on tenant's willingness/ ability to comply.)

The first conversation I have when an issue comes up is, ' can this event be recovered from by THIS individual?'

Yes, some could accuse me of being social worker. I have extensive background working in training and development, and excelled at matching individual to their ideal position, across many venues. So, why shouldn't I use those skills to increase my cash flow? If I can 'work with a tenant' and they come out the other end all caught up and I got FAT late fees... The secret is knowing who has a propensity to succeed; discerning that starts when advertising the unit for rent.